architecture

plural architectures

1. countableuncountableThe art and science of designing and managing the construction of buildings and other structures, particularly if they are well proportioned and decorated.

   The architecture throughout NYC is amazing.

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   April 21, 2017, Max Roscoe, How Your City Is Killing You With Uglinesshttps://web.archive.org/web/20201112015531/https://www.returnofkings.com/118275/how-your-city-is-killing-you-with-ugliness Architecture is the visual public expression of a culture’s achievements, values, and outlook.# The profession of an architect.

2. countableuncountableAny particular style of building design.
3. countableuncountableConstruction, in a more general sense; frame or structure; workmanship.

   1684-1690, Thomas Burnet, Sacred Theory of the Earth the formation of the first Earth, after such a wonderful manner, being a piece of Divine Architecture

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   Our ſoules, whoſe faculties can comprehend The wondrous Architecture of the world: And meaſure euery wandring planets courſe, Still climing after knowledge infinite, […]

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii

   the architecture of grasses, plants, and trees

   1871, John Tyndall, Fragments of Science for Unscientific People

4. countableuncountableA unifying structure.
5. countableuncountablecomputingA family of CPUs sharing a common instruction set and having partial or full compatibility with software built on each other.
6. countableuncountablecomputingA specific model of a microchip or CPU.

   The Intel architectures have more software written for them.

7. countableuncountableThe structure and design of a system or product.

   The architecture of the company's billing system is designed to support its business goals.

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   2004, Prof P.C.P. Bhatt, (nptel.iitm.ac.in) Module 14: Unix Kernel Architecture The kernel runs the show, i.e. it manages all the operations in a Unix flavored environment. The kernel architecture must support the primary Unix requirements. These requirements fall in two categories namely, functions for process management and functions for file management (files include device files). Process management entails allocation of resources including CPU, memory, and offers services that processes may need. The file management in itself involves handling all the files required by processes, communication with device drives and regulating transmission of data to and from peripherals.